Most groups are OK with blackened maille but I would say again, don't fork out money for maille until you can try it on before you buy it. That saves sending it back because it's too small/big and postage on that one is an extra £36!

Why are you even thinking about mail?Join a group.Take their advice on what soft kit to buy and where to buy it from.Invest in well made shoes.Invest in a well made helmet (It's your HEAD for heaven's sake, is it really only worth £50 to you?).

Get the basics right and spend some time at the lower end of the social scale before worrying about swords and mail shirts.

And then, when you're ready and in a position to do so, invest £300 in a riveted mail shirt as you'll only have to buy it once. If you waste money on butted, you'll just want to replace it eventually.I know it's really tempting when you first start to just buy lots of stuff that you think is going to make you look like an elite warrior but, trust me, it won't. You'll just look crap and end up throwing some of it away.

People spend a lot of money on crap that they end of having to replace rather than spending wisely and saving up for quality items as they go along.

I've been trying to get in touch with Vikings of Middle England, but don't really know what's up, I first sent them a message about joining and kit reccomendations a few days after I posted this thread, but I haven't had any reply.

Anyway, think I'm sorted now. Gonna get the soft kit together when I've spoken to VME then get the rest later. Still working on my shield, taking my time with it so I don't mess up! Thanks everyone for advice and suggestions, you've been a massive help